A Few Tips On Taking Card-Worthy Holiday Photos

Photographer Mary Beth Morrissey offers tips on how to take fabulous family photos

Connecticut may be known for insurance, great pizza and Mark Twain, but this quintessential New England state also offers us the perfect settings to use as the backdrop for the photos you hope to use this holiday season.

Still, for do-it-yourselfers, picking the right background and clothing, getting the kids or pets and weather to cooperate, camera limitations, can all be intimidating.

Connecticut wedding and family photographer Mary Beth Morrissey, owner of Capture Photography in Essex, says the average person can take a card-worthy photo with a point and shoot, DSLR camera, or even a smartphone. "The way that cameras are designed these days are very user friendly," she says.

If you're having trouble deciding whether to go inside or out for your holiday photos, Morrissey says it really depends on the temperature.

"Temperature-wise, if you have a nice day, outside is great, "she says. She suggests shooting pictures with kids in natural settings like your local park or playground because of the variety of background choices. And "because kids can feel more freedom to run around and play. And then you can say 'We'll bring you to the playground when we are done with this'."

Mary Beth Morrissey, Capture Photography

Photos in a local setting make a great background for your holiday cards. The best time of day to take your photos? About 1 hour before sunset.

Photos in a local setting make a great background for your holiday cards. The best time of day to take your photos? About 1 hour before sunset. (Mary Beth Morrissey, Capture Photography)

Or, she suggests, "simply walk down the main street of your own town. [There is] lots of character in Connecticut towns."

A gazebo in your town's park, sitting on a colorful slide on the playground, standing on the boardwalk or sitting on a picnic table at a local beach are just some ideas of picturesque locales for photos. Even sitting on the steps of a historic building can give your card a unique look.

Best time of day for taking photos outside? About an hour before sunset.

"That is called the golden hour," Morrissey said. "That gives you that nice, warm light; that sort of yellowish, orange light. So you don't have any harsh shadows, everything is very even."

But if you have to shoot earlier, Morrissey advises shooting in the shade: "That gives you a nice even light over the group so you don't have people squinting....Shade is great."

If an inside photo is your choice, Morrissey suggests using a spot in your house with Christmas decorations as background. If you decide to take your picture in front of the tree, stand at least 10 feet away.

"You'll have that nice blurry look in the background. Maybe you can see the Christmas tree or presents in the back, but the real focus [should be] on the kids" or the people.

Wherever you are, it can be tough to get everyone to look and smile at the camera at the same time, especially children if kids are involved. If this becomes an issue, Morrissey suggests taking individual pictures of everyone.

"The way Christmas cards are designed these days you have a frame with the young [child], then a frame with the middle one and then you have Mom and Dad," she said. "That way there isn't the pressure of getting that one picture of everyone looking and smiling. And that's a little more unique anyway."

To match or not to match?

Wear two or three colors that go together, she suggests, or be specific if you tell your family to wear one color.

"You just don't want to say blue," she said. "The problem with blue is there's navy, turquoise, royal blue. I would be specific; say navy blue, white and gray. You've got three colors, but they aren't matchy, matchy."

Maybe you want to take pictures of your furry friend (or friends) for your card. Morrissey suggests using the action mode on your camera.

"With the action mode you can snap off tons of pictures and you are bound to get at least one where he or she is looking in the direction you want."

Don't be afraid the think outside the box, she says.

"Creative is fun. Even if you have a picture that you might not think is perfect, show who your true family is. ... Just showing kids being — they're not looking at the camera, one is pulling the hair of the other — that's everyday life and we all know it. And it probably would be very refreshing to see that."